Shattered Pieces (Undercover Elite Book 1)(16)

Suddenly, I think about my old job and make a note to ask him if he will call and let my boss know I won’t be returning. I’ve always been responsible when it comes to the jobs I’ve held down and I don’t like the thought of leaving my boss hanging, even if he is a jerk.

Out of the corner of my eye, I notice the new laptop that now sits on my bedroom desk. Cash must have had someone set it up while we were working out.

I jump up, excited to explore what it can do. I’m sure it’s a lot because it’s top of the line. I boot it up and pop in the disc that had been left on the desk with it. I study for the next two hours and then nap before it’s time for dinner.

For the next week before we leave, this would be my schedule and, much to my surprise, I have never been happier.





Chapter Nine


Cash

I watch as she enters the dining hall, wearing the red gown I laid out for her. Though I normally would escort her to dinner myself, I got stuck on a conference call going over the last minute details for our upcoming job. I stand to take her hand and kiss it as she sits next to me.

“You had a very full day,” I say as I fill her wine glass, “and you did very well, young lady. I’m impressed. Your schedule will be much of the same until we leave next week. Are you nervous?”

“No, I’ll be in my element—the only white girl for miles.”

I chuckle as I listen to her. She never ceases to entertain me with her wit. She may not be capable of falling in love with me, but she damn sure has me head over heels in something with her.

We spend the rest of the evening eating dinner and then she falls asleep in my arms as soon as her head hits the pillow. It has probably been years since she had to wake up at six am. Following a rigorous workout routine and then studying college courses daily has got to be wearing on her; I’m sure she is tired.





Chapter Ten


Johnnie

For the next week, I study and work out. My mornings begin by 6:30am and I stay busy until the time I fall into bed, exhausted from the day. Many times, I go to sleep in Cash’s arms or awaken in the morning to find him in my bed because he has joined me sometime during the night.

He seems to be more focused on my training and not so much on his obsession with bonding me to him. I find myself looking forward to going overseas and though I have many questions about our first job, he isn’t giving me any answers yet. His reply to any questions up to this point has been, “just focus on your training.”

Today is the day he chooses to fill me in on my itinerary, as well as the details of the job we will be doing. I look up from the bed, where I’m busy studying Spanish, when I hear the beep of the door alerting me to his entrance.

I follow him with my eyes as he makes his way over to me. Once again, he is dressed in a suit and the serious look on his face lets me know that he is here to talk business. I know that what we’re going to be doing is dangerous and I concentrate on listening to what he has to say. The country we’re going to is riddled with not only guerillas intent on forcing their political agendas, but also gangs in the midst of drug wars securing territory for their trade. Mexico and El Salvador are particularly dangerous right now and Guatemala is seated right between them.

Cash sits in the chair and eyes me as he stretches his long legs out, interlocking his fingers behind his neck in a relaxed pose. “I’m pleased to see that you’ve been studying not only the language for the area we will be going, but the geography as well.”

“How do you know that?”

“Do you actually believe I would allow you access to a computer without monitoring your history on it? You’re still a prisoner here, love.”

“You’re going to have to trust me at some point.”

“I believe this job will reveal if I can trust you or not. I hope you don’t disappoint me.”

“I stopped wanting to escape when you revealed your purpose for having me here.”

“Good, because you no longer have your own residence. Your home is here.”

“Well, Cash, thanks for making that decision for me,” I sarcastically reply. He ignores me, intent on discussing our trip.

“We leave tomorrow and I won’t always be with you but I’ll still be with you.”

“What do you mean?”

“We’re going to break up a black market baby ring. You’ll be staying at the house of the doctor who is involved with setting up young mothers to steal their newborns. You’ll be there under the guise of enrolling in language classes for the next six weeks. I’ll provide you with a top of the line phone with unlimited internet access and international calls.”